Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (front C) leads his cabinet ministers as they attend a photo session at Abe's official residence in Tokyo Preston Smith Jersey , Japan, Aug. 3, 2017. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reshuffled his cabinet and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) executive lineup on Thursday in a bid to restore public faith in a scandal-mired government. (XinhuaMa Ping)
TOKYO, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, amid growing public discontent and mistrust that saw his support rate plummet to historic lows, made a cabinet reshuffle Thursday in a bid to recover confidence.

Abe picked a line up of veterans to serve in his new cabinet in a bid to fight shy of further controversies, which arose from a slew of scandals and gaffes involving himself and his ministers.

The prime minister's cabinet reshuffle Thursday was as much about damage control in the public's eyes as it was about picking the right lineup to see that solid policy visions are brought through to fruition.

Abe's hand had been forced to some extent and his choices, both in terms of some of his new cabinet picks and executive party lineup choices, were to quash increased disquiet from within the LDP's factions.

If left unchecked, the dissatisfaction within the LDP could further wreak havoc on Abe and his somewhat delicate administration, analysts say.

Former defense minister Tomomi Inada, a protege of Abe's who has being embroiled in multiple scandals, would have been ousted in the reshuffle had she not resigned last week Montae Nicholson Jersey , political experts have concurred.

"I'm not surprised to see Itsunori Onodera handed the defense minister's portfolio as he is a known entity to Abe as he will be serving in this capacity for a second time. At a time when Japan is dealing with regional geopolitical situations, the public has been incensed that Inada wasn't booted out earlier," political commentator and Shizuoka-based author Philip McNeil told Xinhua.

In the public's eyes, the defense ministry is now, ostensibly, in a "solid" pair of hands, those of an experienced minister who has a proven track record Jonathan Allen Jersey , said McNeil.

"Onodera will now be charged with shoring up the ministry and making sure the coverup scandal will remain a thing of the past," McNeil said.

"You simply can't have a scandal-tainted defense ministry as the public has hit the panic button. Abe seems to have cleaned house here to an extent," he added.

More house cleaning had to take place at the education ministry, experts also said, as the influence-peddling scandal needs to be resolved.

The scandal involved Kake Educational Institution, run by a close friend of Abe's, being picked to open a new school in a special deregulated zone.

Considering the prime minister himself is implicated in the Kake scandal Ryan Kerrigan Jersey , political watchers said it came as no surprise that Yoshimasa Hayashi will be taking over as education minister, as he's another veteran who previously served in numerous cabinet positions including as defense minister and farm minister.

Those who have come under close scrutiny over the Kake ordeal were also removed from the spotlight, McNeil said.

Again, this is an example of Abe bringing in veterans who purportedly run tight ships to rekindle public support, he explained.

Former education minister Kozo Yamamoto, who had been embroiled in the Kake scandal, has been replaced as state minister in charge of regional revitalization and Koichi Hagiuda Jordan Reed Jersey , switched out as deputy chief Cabinet secretary for the same reason, McNeil said.

MAVERICK ENVOY

Meanwhile, Abe's selection of Taro Kono, former minister in charge of administrative reform, to take over the foreign minister portfolio from Fumio Kishida, took some political watchers by surprise, in as much as Kishida Josh Norman Jersey , a potential future rival of Abe's for the party leadership, has been allowed to write his own ticket.

Kishida will now chair the party's Policy Research Council and according to sources close to the matter had told Abe he wanted the senior party post, with such tenures often a stepping stone to leadership positions.

"The Kishida-Kono switch is an interesting one as they either have been or are potential threats to Abe's leadership, a point the prime minister may have conceded and a move that keeps them both onside," said independent political analyst Teruhisa Muramatsu.

Kono is the son of Yohei Kono, who in 1993 as Chief Cabinet Secretary issued the landmark Kono Statement, which admits and apologizes for the Imperial Japanese Army coercing and forcibly recruiting "comfort women" to work in military brothels during World War II.

"While he may be seen as one of the only mavericks in his cabinet role Trent Williams Jersey , both in terms of experience and his willingness to shoot from the hip, the Georgetown University graduate who was an aide in Washington and still has close ties there, could steer foreign diplomacy in a positive direction," Muramatsu said.

"While he might be known for being a fervid negotiator and for speaking his mind, it's his open-mindedness that may give Japan's foreign diplomacy, especially concerning regional issues, a slightly softer and congenial impression Adrian Peterson Jersey , which might not be such a bad thing," Muramatsu added.

BALANCING ACT

Abe, as widely expected, retained a number of his key members and closest allies, including Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Taro Aso as well as Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga to show a semblance of continuity, stability and aptitude.

But experts have noted that compromises were made to ensure more unity between and within the LDP's factions, with Kishida's voluntary exit from the cabinet and Seiko Noda's reappearance being examples of this.